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Frances Elizabeth Willard was born on September 28, 1839 in Churchville, New York to Josiah Flint Willard and Mrs. Mary Thompson Hill Willard. Frances’ early girlhood was spent on a farm on the frontier in what was then the territory of Wisconsin. She was a delicate child at first, but she dressed simply and spent a great deal of time outdoors. Her parents were both teachers made sure there children were well educated.
At seventeen, Frances and her sister Mary went to Milwaukee Female College, where their mother’s sister, Sarah Hill, was teacher. From there she went on to Northwest Female College at Evanston, Illinois, where she graduated with high honors. In fact, she was valedictorian of her class.
After graduation, Frances taught continuously until 1868 when she went on a world tour with friend Kate Jackson. Upon returning to America in 1870, Frances returned to Evanston and became Precpetress of Norwest Female College. Her teaching career lasted sixteen years. She taught in schools, seminaries, and colleges, her last position being that of Dean of the Woman’s College of the Northwestern University. She was at the same time professor of aesthetics and natural science. One of Frances’ great achievements was the introduction of the system of self-government among the students and bringing to pass its successful operation.
The next period of her life is marked by the temperance crusade in Ohio. Frances’ soul was deeply stirred and she joined the temperance movement. The making of the Woman’s College an organic part of the University prevented her from carrying out her plans for the college, so she resigned her position as dean and professor and joined the temperance crusade movement.
From teaching aesthetics in a university she became an apostle of temperance to the drunkards in Chicago. Frances gave up much for temperance work. She often went without her lunch because she had no money to pay for it, and she walked several miles because she was unable to pay car fare.
Frances had a great administrative ability and she had a magnificent power over her audiences. The work grew and the combination of her abilities led her to become leader of the National and then the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
Frances Willard was the most influential leader in the Temperance Movement in the United States. She was the originator of the motto: “For God, Home, and Native Land”. In January 1898, Frances gave her last public address in the Congregational Church of Janesville.
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